Pearl Jam Shares Montana Documentary for a Limited Time

Pearl Jam is helping get the word out about a very cool short documentary called "Paving the Way". The documentary follows young skaters on the Flathead Indian Reservation and shows how something as small as a skate park can completely change their lives.

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Most everyone knows that Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament has done many wonderful things for the Montana communities for years. We have discussed his efforts to create skate parks throughout the state. This time around, the story is not so much about Ament but about the people that these skate parks have helped.

Pearl Jam Brings a Montana Story to the Spotlight

"Paving the Way", a documentary made by director Keelan Williams, showcases young individuals from the Flathead Indian Reservation. On the reservation, five skate parks were created via the partnership between Amenta Montana Pool Services (MPS) and the confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

Pearl Jam/YouTube

While you may spend 20 minutes listening to someone talk about how a famous rock star built skate parks, the documentary brings forward the youth who actually utilize these spaces. One of those youth is Alishon Kelly. Kelly is both a skateboarder, artist, and traditional dancer who speaks about her struggle with feeling alone until she found a sense of belonging while skateboarding. Other youth speak about dealing with family issues, homelessness, and other problems they face as they grow up in rural areas where opportunities can often times be limited.

It's About More Than Skateboarding

So why should you take the time to view "Paving the Way"? You do not have to know anything at all about skateboarding to enjoy this film. These parks provide a space for youth to socialize, express themselves positively, and even just have somewhere to go to feel like they belong. In many cases, having a place to call home can make a huge difference in a person's life.

man doing trick at skateboard park during sunset

Jeff Ament also provided the original score to the documentary. So now Pearl Jam is connected to this film not only because they promoted it, but because of Ament's contribution to the soundtrack.

Don't Wait Too Long to Watch

This film is approximately 20 minutes long. That means you will not lose an hour or two of your day if you decide to watch it. In fact, you might be able to fit it into your lunch break. Also, given that this film is said to be available only for one week, I do not think waiting is wise.

As we have seen Jeff Ament give back to Montana numerous times before, this is something slightly different. This film allows the youth from the Flathead Reservation to tell their own stories. As such, it is a very unique look at how one of the largest rock bands in the world has not forgotten where they came from.